Refrigerating apparatus



March 3, 1942. J. c. CHAMBERS REFRIGERATING' APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, 1942'.

J. C. CHAMBERS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. Q9, 1933 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Jewel 0. Chambers, Dayton, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 29, 1933, Serial No. 700,171

15 Claims.

side of the building at another time of the day.

It is among the objects of this invention to pro- .vide an air conditioning apparatus which may shift its conditioning capacity to meet these changing conditions. Furtherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the fol air at various parts or rooms Ito and Illb'in the building. While I prefer to use my invention with a plurality of modifiers, certain aspects of my invention may be applied where only one modifier is used. Thus where only one such modifier is used, conditions may arise wherein the modifier need not operate during a certain portion of the day, but should operate during other parts of the day, It is within the purview of my invention that automatic means responsive to the suns rays may be provided thus automatically to control the single modifier. Where two or more air modifiers are used, it is within the purview of this invention to provide means for automatically changing the operation of the modifiers as the conditioning load shifts throughout the building.

,To accomplish'the foregoing, the modifier II may be in the form of an evaporator I3 through 'which air is blown by the electrically driven blower I4. The second air modifier I2 may be in the form of a second evaporator I5-th'rough which air is blown by the electrically driven blower I6. The evaporator I3 is connected to a first refrigerant liquefying unit Il, preferably in the form of a compressor I8, condenser I9 I and receiver 20a in closed refrigerant flow connection with the evaporator I3, the compressor l8 being driven by an electric motor 20. The

I evaporator I3 may be provided with any suitable means of properly maintainingthe' refrigerant therein, and to this end an automatic expansion valve 2 I is provided, having a. thermostatic bulb 2Ia in contact with the outlet of the evaporator I3. This type of valveis constructed to maintain the evaporator I3 substantially in liquid refrigerant fiooded condition.

The second evaporator I5 is connected to a'sec- 0nd refrigerant liquefying unit 22, similar to the first refrigerant liquefying unit I1, and which preferably comprises a compressor 23, condenser 24, refrigerant receiver in closed refrigerant flow circuit with the evaporator I5, a suitable refrigerant fiow valve, in the form of an automatic expansion valve 26 having thermostaticbulb 26a, being provided, the action of valve 26 being similar to the action of valve 2 I. I

In the modification shown in Fig. 1, a booster is provided to enhance the conditioning power of either or both th modifiers II and I2. In this particular embodiment, the booster is in the form of a booster refrigerant liquefying unit 21, preferably comprising acompressor 28, condenser 29 and receiver 30, constructed and arranged so that it may be connected in refrigerant flow relationship with either or both the evaporators l3 and I5.

In order to permit the booster 21 to be connected with either or both of the modifiers, the receiver 30 is connected with a liquid refrigerant pipe 3|, having branches 32 and 33 which are connected respectively withthe liquid refrigerant pipes34 and 35which connect respectively the receiver 25 with th evaporator I5 and the receiver 20 with the evaporator I 3. Likewise the evaporated refrigerant line 36, which leads to the compressor 28 is connected by branches 31 and 38 respectively with the evaporated refrigerant lines 39 and 40 which connect respectively evaporator I5 with the compressor 23, and evaporator I3 with compressor I8.

Suitable valves, preferably in the form of solenoid valves -4 I 42, 43 and 44 are provided for connecting the booster 21 with either of the modifiers II and I2. If the connection is to be automatic, automatic means, responsive to the shifting conditions of-the building, are provided for properly actuatmg these valves. To this end, a

first sun ray-sensitive instrument 45 is provided for the modifier II and evaporator I3 and a secs 0nd sun ray-sensitive instrument 46 is provided for the modifier I2 and evaporator I5. These ray-sensitive instruments are constructed and arranged to change the operation of at least one of 2 the modifiers in' response to the action of the sun's rays on the instrument. This is accomplished by causing these instruments to connect the booster refrigerant liquefying unit 21 with either or both the evaporators I3 and I5 thus to enhance the conditioning power of these evaporators by enhancing the refrigerant liquefying capacities connected with the evaporators.

- line I8 permits the oil level in the crankcases of The connection'of the booster 2I by means of the instruments- 45 and 46 is accomplished by suitable electrical relays. Thus when sun's rays become sufilciently effective on the instrument 45, the relay 41 is energized. This causes the relay 48 to be energized through the action of the,

current flowing through the transformer 49,

which in turn is energized by the line current from source 50. When the more powerful relay 48 is closed, current flows-through the, line 52 and a 53 to the solenoid valves 44 and 42 and back to the main line 54, thus opening valves 44 and 42 and thus connecting the booster 21 in refrigerant flow relationshipwith the evaporator I3. It is also desirable simultaneously to cause the refrigerant liquefying unit 21 to start operating if the same is not already operating. This is accompli'shed by providing a relay 5| which is energized by the relay 48, which relay 5| causes current to flow through the line 54 to the motor 55 which compressors 28 and 23 to equalize.

Means are provided for causing the. unit 21 to operate when it is connected with the modifier I2. This is accomplished because when the re- 1 lay I5 is energized by the flow of current throu h thelines I3 and I4, the switch of the relay I5 is conditions require it, thus actuating the blow I6 and the motor 82 which drives the comp sor 23.

From the foregoing it will conditions-in the rooms in which they are lo cated. When the conditioning load shifts or increases abnormally in the building and the sun's rays become effective on either of the instru- 25.

ments or 46, these instruments change the operation of the corresponding modifier by corinecting'the booster refrigerant liquefying unit 21 with the corresponding evaporator. This ac-.

drives the compressor 28, thus causing the unit 21 to start operating. Also, if the compressors in these units have bodies of lubricant which may enter into fiow relationship with the refrigerant, it is desirable to provide a lubricant flow connection between the compressors which connection is opened when the booster is connected with either of the other refrigerant liquefying units.

Thus a. lubricant line 56 is provided with the solenoid valve 5! which is energized through the line 58 when the relay 48.15 closed, and thus the oil in the crankcase of the compressors I8 and 28 attain a common level at the opening of the valve 51. If, therefore, there is any tendency for the oil flowing through the refrigerating system to accumulate in either of the compressors I8 or 28, the connection. overcomes this tendency and prevents the accumulation of oil in one compressor to the detriment of the other.

Preferably theair modifier II is automatically controlledin accordance with conditions in the enclosure 10a in which it is located. Thus the,

condition sensitive instrument 50, which may be a dry bulb thermostat, a wet bulb thermostat, a.

hygrostat or any other suitable automaticim' strument, permitsthe flow of electric current through the line 6| when conditions require it. and this flow causes the blower I4 tooperate and simultaneously causes the motor 20 to operate,thus controlling the operation of theunit I"I.

When the conditioning load shifts to the other side "of the building, the ray-sensitive instrument 46 is adapted to connect the booster 21 with the modifier- "in substantially thesame manner that the ray-sensitive instrument 45 connects the booster with themodifier II. Thus when the suns, rays become effective on the through the lines 'I3'and'14 to the solenoid yalves 4| and 43, opening them and thusconmeeting the unit 21 with the evaporator "I5. Si

instrument 46, the relay $170 is energized thus I closing its switch and energizing the relay 1| 1 ,through the action of transformer I2. When {the switch of relay II' is closed, current fiows multaneously the valve I6 is energized through line I1. when the valve I6 Is opened, the oil 'modifler I I I is changed.

tion naturally changes or modifies the action of the refrigerant liquefying unit which is permanently connected to the evaporator, by boosting its refrigerant liquefying power. If the sun's rays become effective on both of the instruments 45 and 46, then the booster 21 is connected to both modifiers II and I2 by the. opening-of all .of the valves 4|, 42, 43 and 44.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the action of the modifiers III and I I2 is changed by changing the speed of the operation of the refrigerant liquefying units Ill and I22 respectively, rather than by connecting a booster to'them.' To this end, the motors I20 and I82 are of the twospeed, or plural speed, '-variety. These motors drive respectively compressors H8 and. I23. When the sun's ,raysbecome effective on the ray- "sensitive instrument I45, the relay I4! is enar gized. This in turn energizes relay 2" and transmits current to the speed control 2" in such a manner-that itcauses the. compressor [I8 to operate at a higher speed. This obviously increases the modifying capacity of the evaporator II3 so that the modifying action The remaining portions of the system are substantially the same as mm. 1; Thus the cornpressor Il8 discharges into a condenser IIS and a receiver I2Ila. Refrigerant flows through the liquid line I35 through the automatic expansion valve I2I into the'evaporator II3, the evaporated refrigerant returning to the compressor III through the line I40. The operation of the modifier III is also governed by' conditions in the compartment in which it is placed. Thus a condition'responsive instrument: IGII, similar to -instrument 60, permits current to flow through v the line ISI, when required by conditions, tov actuate the blower II4, passing also through con-- trol MI in amanner to cause the motor I25, to operate at the normalor slower speed. The unit I" thus starts and stops, operating at the nor-, J mal or slower speed, until such atime as the sun's rays become effective and the instrument I45, when the unit .II'I operates at the higher or abnormal speed. V

be seen that th modifiers II and -I2 maintain normal desired of the.

The modifier H2 is similar under the control of the ray-sensitive instrument I46 and the condition sensitive instrument I80. When the sun's rays become effective on the instrument I46, the relay III is energized which in turn energizes the relay 202 through the action of the transformer I'I2. When the relay 202 is closed, current fiows through the speed control 203 in a manner which causes themotor I82 to operate at the higher speed. When the condition sensitive instrument I80 is energized, current flows through the line I 8| to the blower I I6 and to the speed control device 203 in a manner to cause the motor I82 to operate at the slower speed, when the instrument I45 is not under the action of the sun rays, and

when the instrument I46 is under the influence of the suns rays.

The compressor I23 is connected to a condenser I24, a receiver I25, a liquid refrigerant line I34, an automatic expansion valve I26 to the evaporator H5. The evaporated refrigerant returns through the line I29 to the compressor I23.

The parts in Fig. 2 which are numbered I higher than corresponding parts in Fig. 1, have substantially the same function, and operate substantially in the same manner as such corresponding parts in Fig. 1, the only diiference beingthat the liquefying units in Fig. 2 have their capacity increased by a change in speed rather than by the help of a booster.

While the form of embodiment of the inven tion as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms' might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which-follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In an air conditioning apparatus, a first air cooler, a second air cooler, a booster, a first ray-sensitive instrument for said first air cooler. a second' ray-sensitive instrument for said second orator, a second refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said secondevaporator, a booster refrigerant liquefying unit, a first temperature responsive means controlling the operation of said first refrigerant liquefying unit, a second temperature responsive means controlling the operation of said second refrigerant liquefying unit,

. to operate the motor I82 at the higher speed f cooler, said instruments connecting said booster tor, a second refrigerant liquefying unit eonnected to said second evaporator, a booster refrigerant liquefying unit, and means for automatically connecting said booster with either of said evaporators in accordance with environmental conditions.

4. In an air conditioning apparatus, a first evaporator, a first refrigerant liquefying unit connected tosaid evaporator, a second evap:

orator, a second refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said second evaporator, a booster refrigerant liquefying unit, temperature responsive means controlling the operation of said first refrigerant liquefying unit, and means for automatically connecting said booster with either of said evaporators in accordance with environmental conditions.

5. In an air conditioning apparatus, a first evaporator, a first refrigerant liquefying unitv connected to said evaporator, a second evapand means for automatically connecting said booster with either of said evapor'ators in accordance with environmental conditions.

6. In an air conditioning apparatus, a first evaporator, a first refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said evaporator, a second evaporator, a second refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said first and second evaporators a first raysensitive instrument forsaid-first evaporator, a second ray-sensitive instrument for said second evaporator, constructed and arranged to change the operation of at least one of said refrigerant liquefying units in response to the action of rays on said instruments.

7. In an air conditioningapparatus, a first evaporator, a first refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said evaporator, a second evaporator, a second refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said second evaporator, a booster refrigerant liquefying unit, a first ray-sensitive instrument for said first evaporator, a second ray-sensitive instrument for said second evaporator, said instrumeritsconnecting said booster refrigerant liquefying unit to either of said first two named refrigerant liquefying'units in response to the and arranged to change the speed of operation of at least one of said refrigerant liquefying units in response to. the action of rays on said instruments. 9. In an air conditioning apparatus; an evaporator, a first refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said evaporator, a booster refrigerant liquefying unit, a ray sensitive instrument automatically connecting said booster refrigerant liquefying unit to said evaporator in response the action of rays on said instrument.- 10. In an air conditioning apparatus: an evaporator, afirst refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said evaporator, temperature responsive means controlling the operation of said first refrigerant liquefying unit, a booster refrigerant liquefying unit,-a ray-sensitive instrument auto-- matically connecting said booster refrigerant liquefying unit to said evaporator in response to the action of rays on said instrument.

11. In an air conditioning apparatus, a firs evaporator, a first refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said evaporator, a second evaporat'or, a second refrigerant liquefying unit connected to said first evaporator and said second evaporator, temperature responsive means conconnected to said evaporator, a second evapo action of the sun's rays.

13. In an air conditioning apparatus, a first "evaporator, a second evaporator, common refrlgerant liquefying means connected to both of said evaporators, and ray-sensitive means for automatically increasing the refrigerating capacity of one of said evaporator s'in response to the 14. In an air conditioning apparatus for a building or the like, heat absorbing means having localized cooling efiect in a plurality of zones in said building, heat dissipating means con-. nected to said heat absorbing means and a raysensitive control automatically controlling the localized cooling effect in one of said zones in .response to the action of the suns rays.

15. In an air conditioning system for a building or the like, a first evaporator within said building,-a second evaporator within said building, common refrigerant liquefying means connected to said evaporators, and means responsive to a condition outside of said building for auto- 'matically increasing the refrigerating capacity of one of said evaporators.

JEWEL C. CHAMBERS. 

